One militant killed, one injured in Kashmir

One militant was killed while another was injured in a gun battle with security forces on Monday in north Kashmir's Bandipore district. During the cross-firing, the injured militant took shelter in a local mosque, which has been surrounded by troops.

Rashtriya Rifles troops started search operations in Daban village in Bandipore early on Monday, after receiving a tip-off about the presence of a group of militants. "While the security forces were busy searching the area, the militants opened fire at them triggering a gunfight. One militant was killed while another one was injured. The injured militant entered a village mosque, which has been surrounded by troops," said a police officer.

Senior army and police officers rushed to Daban village to take stock of the situation.

According to a defence ministry spokesman in Srinagar, village elders are in talks with the injured militant and are trying to persuade him to surrender.    

Meanwhile, a major tragedy was averted in Srinagar on Monday morning after the police detected a powerful improvised explosive device outside the heavily-guarded police control room in the Batamaloo area. A senior police officer said, "The IED was detected by cops manning the main entrance of the control room. Soon after, members of the bomb disposal squad members were rushed to the spot to defuse the explosive."